President Trump and his wife, Melania, were given a personal tour of the usually closed Forbidden City in Beijing by President Xi and his wife, Peng LiyuanJonathan Ernst/Reuters

President Trump received royal treatment on his arrival in Beijing yesterday as President Xi harnessed the glories of imperial China to impress his guest with the Communist country’s superpower status.

Mr Trump and his wife Melania were whisked straight to the Forbidden City, where Mr Xi offered a personal tour of China’s rich and ancient history before a banquet in the former seat of emperors, an honour not extended to a visiting foreign leader since the revolution.

The show of cultural power, part of the “state visit-plus” reception afforded to Mr Trump, was the prelude to formal, challenging talks today, when Mr Xi and Mr Trump will tackle North Korea and trade.